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Missouri House panel investigating Gov. Greitens set to meet

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — A Missouri House committee tasked with investigating Gov. Eric Greitens is set to meet for the first time.

The special panel is scheduled to convene Tuesday for an organizational meeting.

The meeting lasted less than three minutes.

During it, the head of the committee, Jay Barnes, told the media they were "wasting their time" trying to talk to representatives on the board or any witnesses.

The committee then voted to make Wednesday's meeting closed to the public.

No matters regarding the investigation were talked about.

Wednesday morning, the committee is expected to create a timeline for the investigation.

It is also supposed to discuss what witnessess and documents the committee needs for the investigation.

The committee is made up of seven representatives, including five republicans and two democrats.

It was formed by GOP House Speaker Todd Richardson in response to the Republican governor's indictment on a felony invasion-of-privacy charge stemming from an extramarital affair in 2015.

The House panel will be able to use subpoenas issued by Richardson to compel testimony from witnesses. Some of that testimony could be closed to the public to protect the identity of certain witnesses.

The committee has 40 days to issue a report, although that could be extended.

Depending on the results, the committee's findings could be used to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.

Wednesday's closed meeting takes place at the Jefferson City Police Department at 8:30 a.m.